Dear McAuley Families

I should have asked a few mums and dads to write the (Home School) Newsletter this week!  Thank you all for your support of the NSW Health Orders and for all you are doing to keep our community safe.  Life has taken on a  very different rhythm as we await the 11 o’clock update and talk incessantly about vaccines, targets, orders and lockdowns.  At the same time the operations of the school, finance, building and planning for 2022 continues.  Special thanks to our teachers and support staff for their preparation, availability and hard work to support our boys and girls.  There has been really positive feedback from all about our calls this week – all saying how nice it is to touch base (albeit by phone).

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you or your family need support or advice.

Social Media:  Thanks to those who registered for our Internet Safety Presentation with Lachlan Ellis from Catholic Education on Tuesday afternoon.  There was excellent input and great questions asked.  Unfortunately due to the sensitive nature of the topics raised we did not record the session but will run another if there is sufficient interest. Don’t forget there is excellent support and resources on the E-Safety Website. (https://www.esafety.gov.au/).

Please keep an eye on our Facebook page where we are deliberately posting positive messaging and examples of what students and families are up to during Remote Learning.  It seems McAuley is really leading the way in what we are doing and again I am grateful for the hard work and commitment from all involved.

Any important information will be emailed to families rather than posted on social media.

Supervision:  The school remains open, with skeleton staff for the children of essential workers and those families with no other option for care and support at home.  Those children access the remote learning platform at school in the same pattern as those at home. We remain committed to keeping our students and staff safe by minimising movement in the community and contact with other people.  If your children are attending school please ensure they bring a device (if they have one), headphones (it’s not good to share headphones), food and drink and school uniform please.  Thanks to the parents who are checking in on our staff – we even received a lovely box of goodies – thank you!

Please also note revised orders that all staff and students in Year 7 and above must wear masks at all times inside and outside on school grounds. 

Meet the Principal Check In’s:  I would love to connect with some of our students and families and see how you are all going.  Please feel free to send an email to office.mcauley@cg.catholic.edu.au to receive a MS Teams Link for a chat and a catch up.  I will be available next week on Monday 06 September and Wednesday 08 September from 4.30-5.30.  Please feel free to join and we can have a chat in a “Town Hall” type meeting where all join in.

Please enjoy this beautiful spring weather.  A special wish for a Happy Fathers’ Day to our Dads, grandads and father figures.  I am keenly aware there are many who are separated from their families and dad’s this weekend and I send special wishes to you.

Mary our Mother… Look after us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal